St Vincent S Primary School

St Vincent’s Primary School

East Kilbride

Parent Council

Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 28th March 2012 7:00 pm

Members of Council

Mr Tony CullenChairMr John MalleyVice Chair

Gerard GordonChurch RepresentativeMr John McSorleyClass Teacher

Miss Claire Louise MullenPrincipal TeacherMrs Gaynya VealParent Member

Mrs Jacqui MorrisParent MemberMrs Laura FosterParent Member

Mrs Lesley FrameParent MemberMrs Carol Anne GilmoreParent Member

Miss Danielle TimmonsClass TeacherMrs Sharon HamiltonParent Member

Mrs Colette WilsonParent MemberMrs Maureen RuaneParent Member

Mrs Grace GordonMins Secretary

Attendees

Mr Tony CullenMr John MalleyMrs Eileen Tompkins (Head Teacher)

Mrs Jacqui Morris Mrs Joanne DroyMiss Claire Louise Mullen

Mr Gerard GordonMrs Grace Gordon (min secretary)

Mr Joe Kew (PTA)Ms Stacy Barbour (PTA)

1. Welcome

Chairperson issued those present with an Agenda, welcomed everyone. A special welcome was made to Mr Joe Kew and Ms Stacey Barbour two members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Church Rep opened meeting with prayer.

2. Apologies

Received from:Gaynya Veal Julie Ross Carol Anne GilmoreLaura Foster

John McSorleyDanielle TimmonsLesley FrameVincent McDermott

Colette WilsonSharon HamiltonMaureen Ruane

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting held 18th January 2012

Were taken as read and approved.

3aMatters Outstanding from Previous Minutes

Barratt Homes meeting at school

Regrettably Barratt has still not honoured their commitment to giving the school £450 as was promised during the Barratt Homes meeting at the school in 2010, despite numerous communications to Barratt. Chair person and Vice Chair have spoken with personnel at Barratt who have apologised for delay. Hopefully this matter will be drawn to a conclusion in the near future. Action TC/JM

3bSchool Entrance condition at gates/footpath

Min Secy informed meeting that contact had been made with personnel from SLC and was advised that during April the path leading down from the bus stop and into the school gate would be partly re-kerbed to tidy up the ground area where the mud flows onto the path after it has been raining. Also, contact had been made with SLC regarding the rubbish lying on the ground adjacent to the path leading into the school. Mins Secy was advised at this point of the meeting that this land had now been acquired by the school, please see Item No. 4 “Progress in Outdoor Learning” of these minutes.

4. Head Teacher Update

Head Teacher issued report to those present referring to various items and activities: (report attached)

Race Night – Head Teacher thanked the PTA for all their efforts and support to the school throughout the school year, with a special thanks for their fund raising efforts during the recent Race Night. A total of £1900 was raised, £500 of which the PTA have kindly donated towards the Church roof fund, with the balance being made available to the school for the purchase of a ‘ Smart-board’

P7 were recently covering a project on ‘baby chicks’ -these have now been hatched and are now in a new home, the new owner has donated a special treat for P7.

Enterprise Opportunities – there have been a number of activities going on throughout the school whereby the children have been using their own skills and talents to fundraise especially during the Mothers’ Day assembly.

Progress in Outdoor Learning - Depute Head advised meeting that the land adjacent to the school had now been acquired for Outdoor Learning and that funding applications had been made to various sources, in particular to SLC where fifteen schools have been nominated but only five will be eligible. After-school classes may be held in the new year term for pupils interested in creating the various parts of the outdoor learning area. It is anticipated that East Kilbride Development Trust may provide fruit trees. Work on this area may begin after the Easter holidays.

The Principal Teacher has already been working and planning the outdoor learning for literacy, numeracy etc. with other areas of grants being investigated. It is anticipated that each class will spend some time in the outdoor learning area each week. Woodland Trust has worked with the children on the outdoor learning project creating a video of activities. Letter of thanks to be sent to Larry Ford, Executive Director, Education Resources, Support Services of South Lanarkshire Council. Action: Mins Secy

Catholic Education Week a very successful week in school. Mr James McVitie the Catholic Education Co-ordinator of the Catholic Education Commission, has invited our Church Rep to participate in the Catholic Education Commission.

Assemblies for Mothers Day, Bring Them Sunshine and Human Calculator again Mother Days presentation by the lower school was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all visitors. “Bring Them Sunshine” was an assembly presented on projects in India. Human Calculator, alias Scott Flandsberg was a great success with both pupils and staff.

An observation was raised regarding children in composite classes who were not able to participate in some of the activities for the lower school, even although they were of the same age. It was acknowledged that it is sometimes difficult to manage to include all children, comments were taken on board by school staff. Other assemblies included a drama of “The Titanic” by P5/6, this also proved to be a great success.

Visit of Pilgrim Mother Sr Margaretta of Schoenstat Sisters gave a beautiful presentation to the children. It is anticipated that during the month of May families may participate in a day of prayer within the family.

Web-site – comment was made that it was rather difficult to navigate to the minutes of meetings held by Parent Council and PTA – these comments were taken on board. STV had been in filming the chicks progress for our web-site.

Links with other schools – St Vincent Primary School has established strong links with local schools e.g. Crosshouse, Castlefield, Calderglen, Greenhills, Sanderson High and more, through various projects e.g.21st Century Families, Young Engineers Group and hopefully this link will become stronger in the future, for the benefit of all the children.

Sporting and extra-curricular opportunities – children have been able to participate in various sporting activities e.g. Rugby, Tai Kwon-do, Sailing. The Tin Whistle Group has been a great success and suggestion has been made to include string section e.g. violin – watch this space.

Olympic Week – it is anticipated that school will host an Olympic day on 11th June similar to last year’s event which was a great success. Principal is organising a “Countries in the World” show with assistance from Duncanrig, Calderglen High Schools.

Educational Visits – venues for consideration are: Hampden Stadium, Calderglen, Blair Drummond.

Forthcoming Events – it will be the school’s 40 years celebration in 2014 – invitation was made to the Parent Council for suggestions on how to celebrate this special event.

School Improvement Plan – the school is continually searching for new ways to improve learning within the school e.g. outdoor learning.

Reporting to Parents – parents evening will be held in May with the issue of pupil profile

Car Park issues – regrettably this issue raises its head yet again with school staff suffering verbal abuse from inconsiderate drivers who park irresponsibly in the school car park. Mins Secy to contact East Kilbride community police to try and establish the rights of the school with regards to parking rights.

5. PTA Race Night

Mr Joe Kew from the PTA informed meeting that the Race Night held on 23rd March was a great success not only financially but also from a social community viewpoint. He also thanked the Head Teacher and those members of the school teaching staff who supported the evening. Joe advised that there were a good number of new members on the PTA and it is anticipated that with the intake of P1 in August these numbers will increase. It is anticipated that a Family Fun Day can be held within the school during May/June, date yet to be agreed. The PTA will be donating £500 from the Race Night proceeds towards the Church building fund to acknowledge the work and support given to the school by Fr Ivan Boyle, PP and also through the various groups within the Church e.g Catechesis Group, Legion of Mary etc. Head Teacher thanked the PTA for their continued support to the school and for their very generous donation towards the purchase a smart-board.

6. National Assembly for Catholic Education

Church Rep advised meeting that all parents of the school and in particular members of the Parent Council had been invited to participate in the First National Assembly of Catholic Parents to be held on Saturday, 25th August at 2pm in the Xavier Centre, Carfin. This invite will be included in the newsletter to be sent to all parents. Names to be given into the school as soon as possible to enable progress to be made with organising the day.

8. Any Other Business

Enquiry was made as to whether or not buses had been booked to transport the P7 children to St Andrews and St Brides High School for their induction days. The PTA has kindly volunteered to meet transport costs.
It had been noted that no flag pole for our Eco flag had been erected outside the school – Mins Secy to enquire via Ian McDonald, Support Services Co-ordinator of SLC to establish the location of the pole.

Date of next meetings set for Wednesday, 16th May 2012 at 7.00 pm

Meeting closed with prayer at 9.00 pm.